Apparatus for cleaning beer coils



1931 M. s. HALPERN 2,090,755

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BEER COILS Filed Jan. 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. 38 MENDEL 6. HA 4 FERN.

I U BY um. I W 1'51 & Arm.

Aug. 241-, 1937.. M S H RN 2,09@,755

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BEER COILS Filed Jan. 29, less 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F INVENTOR.

[ MENDEL d/YALPERN.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 SAES 6 Claims.

This invention pertains to an apparatus for cleaning beer coils. More particularly the invention pertains to an apparatus for cleaning beer coils of such deposits of organic substances as will normally accumulate therein during the course of the dispensing of this and like beverages.

As a matter of general practice kegs or barrels of beer are placed in the cellar or basement of the dispensary and the hook-up with the dispensing tap consists in a coil surrounded by ice or some mechanical chilling means through which the beer is drawn. Due to the very active nature of the ingredients of the beverage, small parti- 13 cles of organic matter accumulate throughout the length of the coil and other tubular members between the keg and tap as well as in the proximity of the connections of these members. These particles grow and contaminate beverages g drawn through the line unless they are periodically removed therefrom. In fact, the health authorities of the majority of cities and municipalities require that these coils be cleaned. on an average of once a Week. It has been my experi- 25 ence that this task is not only difficult and expensive but practically impossible with the known devices built for this purpose.

The method of cleaning the coils most widely used prior to the perfection of this invention, conso sisted in the following steps: Where a single tap is employed, and this is generally found to be the case in a Small establishment such as a restaurant, the first step is to break the connection between the coil and the supply barrel. The line 35 leading to the coil is then put into communication with a receptacle containing a solution of caustic soda. A water line is connected to a conventional city tap and the solution receptacle, and the city main pressure is depended upon to lo force the solution through the coils and out through the tap. A conventional hose is attached to the tap for the purpose of carrying off the discharge from the tap to a suitable drain. Still other methods employ a pump in the above de- -15 scribed circuit it being believed that added pres- 50 the cleaning solution through the lines and coils and thoroughly cleanse the same if a flow in only one direction is relied on. In the majority of cases it falls far short of the desired results and traces of caustic soda are left in the tubing.

55 This results from the fact that after the solution has been run through the operators depend upon the use of clear water propelled in one direction through the tubing and coils by ordinary city main pressure to clear the lines of matter dissolved by the solution as well as the remaining traces of caustic soda. Repeated experiments prove this does not accomplish the object and where this practice prevails, it is necessary to draw off and sacrifice several glasses of beer before the line is reasonably clear.

When the apparatus includes a motor, as for example, an electric motor, considerable difficulty is frequently experienced in finding a convenient outlet of the source of power. Then too, the devices developed heretofore have been exceedingly heavy, a factor of considerable importance when consideration is given to the fact that beer coil cleaning is generally done on a piece work basis and the operators are obliged to transport their cleaning units from place to place.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus which will overcome the shortcomings of the devices briefly referred to above. It also contemplates the employment of an apparatus which is simple in construction, easy to operate, and which has few working parts. Furthermore, the apparatus devised is extremely compact and light in weight and therefore readily transported from job to job and set up for use.

Through experimentation it has been shown that the present invention obtains that degree of efficiency in cleaning beer coils which will ren der them clean and entirely free of foreign matter of any kind so that when the dispensing of beer is resumed none of the beverage need be wasted.

Briefly, the apparatus employed comprises an intake pipe passing through a solution receptacle and a valve having a novel series of by-passes and output and intake ports for connection with the coils to be cleaned, and a discharge pipe adapted to carry off the used water and matter removed from the coils, whereby the flow of the cleaning solution through the coils may be reversed at will.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus employed.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, taken from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve core and the handle thereon.

Figure 5 a horizontal longitudinal section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken along the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatical View showing the apparatus connected to a set of coils and with arrows indicating the direction of flow.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatical view, as in the case of Figure 7, showing the reversing of the course of the flow.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings a valve casing I9, intake and outlet pipes I I and I2, respectively, a solution cup I3 and a base I4 are formed by a one piece casting. As the specification proceeds, however, it will be seen that the principle of the invention is not dependent upon this particular construction and that the device may be assembled from separate parts.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings the solution cup I3 is attached to the intake pipe II and tube or conduit 9 and communicates there.- with in the manner about to be described. Intake pipe I I and tube or conduit 9 are superposed above and in alignment with outlet pipe I2. Intake pipe II which receives the. water stream from the conventional city tap, and is adapted to be connected therewith by a hose, not shown, is interrupted by the vertically disposed elbow I5 in the bottom of solution cup I3. Suspended within solution cup I3 is the perforate receptacle I6 adapted to contain a water soluble cleanser such as soda chips II. The mounting of the receptable I6 within the cup I3 is accomplished by means of a flange I8 at the top of the receptacle I6 resting upon an annular shoulder I9 adjacent the top of the cup I3. The water stream enters the receptacle I6 through the perforations 28 in the bottom thereof and the solution, resulting from the action of the water on the cleanser, passes through a series of ports 26 in the upper wall of the receptacle I8 coursing down through the space between the inner wall of cup I3 and receptacle I6. From thence it passes through port 27 in the bottom of cup I3, through conduit 9 and port 30, to be directed according to the position of valve core 3I.

The solution cup I3 is provided with a conventional screw cap 28 and a washer 29 renders the closure water tight.

The valve core 3| (see Fig. 4) is provided with a pair of opposed upper and lower by-passes 32 and 33, respectively, and a handle 34 for manual operation. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the connection between core 3| and easing ID is rendered water tight by means of the screw cap 35, engaging suitable threads on the casing I0, and a washer 36.

The valve casing I8 is provided with a pair of inlet or outlet nipples 31 and 38, the character of which is determined by the position of the valve core 3I as will be hereinafter explained. Communication between nipples 31 and 36 and the valve casing ID, in each instance, is established by means of the dual connections 39 and 40, respectively, disposed therebetween.

Dual connection 39 communicates with the interior of the valve casing ID by means of the upper port 46 (see Fig. 5) and lower port 41 (see Fig. 6). Dual connection 40 communicates with the interior of valve casing I by means of the upper port 48 (see Fig. and lower port 49 (see Fig. 6).

Discharge pipe I2 also has a dual connection 50 with valve casing I0 and communication therebetween is established through the ports 5| and 52 (see Fig. 6).

Operation In operation the intake pipe II is connected to a water tap by means of a conventional rubber hose. A similar hose 53 is attached to nipple 31 and the extension line on coils'54 freed from the keg or other beer container. Hose 55 is then connected between nipple 38 and the conventional tap 56, the latter being first opened for the purpose. Valve core 3| is then swung to the left, looking at Fig. 2. This brings by-pass 32 in the core into registry with ports 30 and 46 and establishes communication between tube 9 and nipple 37. The same movement brings by-pass 33 into registry with ports 5| and 49, establishing communication between nipple 38 and discharge pipe I2.

With the core 3I thus set the direction of flow is as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings and indicated by the arrows. The solution flows from tube 9 through port 30, the by-pass 32 and port 46, into nipple 37. From thence it flows through hose 53 to coils 54 to effect the desired cleansing. The discharge, as will be noted, passes through the tap 56, hose 55, nipple 38, port 49, by-pass 33, port 5! and into pipe I 2, by which it is carried to any point of disposal such as a sewer drain.

In order to reverse the direction of fiow of the solution through the coils 54 and thus effect the more efficient cleansing thereof, valve core handle 34 is swung to the right, again looking at Figure 2; of the drawings. In this movement by-pass 32 of core 3! is swung into registry with ports 30 and 48, establishing communication between tube 9 and nipple 38, while by-pass 33 is brought intp, registry with ports 52 and 4'! to establish a pas-- sage to discharge pipe I2. Thus the circuit shown in Figure 8 of the drawings is established and the flow is as indicated by the arrows.

To aid in a clear understanding of Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings it should be said that there the valve casing II] and the core 3I have been split horizontally into two halves, both of which are laid out with suitable connections. When the device is employed in the cleansing of a two coil dispenser, all that need be done is to connect the coils, or the taps, with a short length of hose and then attach lines 53 and 55 to the two remaining connections. In the same manner the device may be employedin the servicing of still larger dispensers.

One particular advantage of the present devicelies in the fact that the flow oi the solution to the coils may be cut ofi completely when desired. The cut off position of the valve-is shown in Figs. 1-3 and 5 and 6. An example of the convenienceof this operation would be that the valve can be set in the off position pending attachment of the various connecting lines, thecontrol of the device being centralized at all times.

It is to be appreciated the principle of this in-- vention may take many forms and for this reason I do not wish to be limited to the preferred form illustrated in the drawings but only according to the-scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by grant of Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a solution cup, a valve casing, a core in said casing, an intake pipe in communication with said cup, a tubular connection between said cup and said valve casing, a discharge pipe for said casing, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing, a pair of nipples on said casing, each of said upper and lower ports being in communication with one of said nipples, a pair of opposed by-passes in said core, one of said by-passes establishing communi cation between said tubular connection for said cup and said casing and one of said upper ports,

and the other of said by-passes establishing communication between said discharge pipe and one of said lower ports.

2. In a device of the class described, a solution cup, a valve casing, a core in said casing, an intake pipe in communication with said cup, a tubular connection between said cup and said valve casing, a discharge pipe for said casing disposed beneath and in alignment with said intake pipe and said tubular connection, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing, a pair of nipples on said casing, each of said upper and lower ports being in communication with one of said nipples, upper and lower opposed by-passes in said core, said upper by-pass establishing communication between said tubular connection for said cup and casing and a selected one of said upper ports, and

the lower by-pass establishing communication between said discharge pipe and a selected one of said lower ports.

3. In a device of the class described, a solution cup, a valve casing, a core in said casing, an intake pipe in communication with said cup, a tubular connection between said cup and said valve casing, a discharge pipe for said casing disposed beneath and in alignment with said intake pipe and said tubular connection, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing, a pair of nipples on said casing, said nipples being adapted for connection to opposite ends of a beer coil, each of said upper and lower ports being in communication with one of said nipples, upper and lower opposed by-passes in said core, said upper by-pass establishing communication between said tubular connection for said cup and casing and a selected one of said upper ports, and the lower by-pass establishing communication between said discharge pipe and a selected one of said lower ports.

4. In a device of the class described, a valve casing, having an intake port and a discharge port in superposed relation, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing opposing said intake and discharge ports, a pair of nipples on said casing, each of said upper and lower ports being in communication with one of said nipples, a core in said casing, upper and lower opposed by-passes in said core, said upper by-pass establishing communication between said intake port and a selected one of said upper ports, and said lower by-pass establishing communication between said discharge port and one of said lower ports.

5. In a device of the class described, a solution cup, a receptacle having a perforate bottom suspended therein, a supply conduit for said cup having its discharge end within said cup and directed toward the bottom of said receptacle, ports in the wall and adjacent the top of said receptacle, a discharge port in the bottom of said cup, a valve casing, a core in said casing, a tubular connection between the discharge port of said cup and said casing, a discharge pipe for said casing disposed beneath and in alignment with said supply conduit and said tubular connection, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing, a pair of nipples on said casing each being in communication with said casing through one of said upper and lower ports, upper and lower opposed by-passes in said core, said upper by-pass establishing communication between the connection for said cup and casing and a selected one of said upper ports, and the lower by-pass establishing communication between said discharge pipe and a selected one of said lower ports.

6. In a device of the class described, a valve casing, an intake port and a discharge port in superposed relation, a pair of upper and lower ports in said casing opposing said intake and discharge ports, a pair of nipples on said casing each being in communication with said casing through one of said upper and lower ports, a core in said casing having a handle thereon, upper and lower opposed by-passes in said core, said upper bypass establishing communication between said intake port and one of said upper ports upon selective movement of said core, said lower by-pass establishing communication between said discharge port and one of lower ports upon said selective movement.

MENDEL S. HALPERN. 

